DEC kills moose; says the animal was badly hurt

September 26, 2012

The state Department of Environmental Conservation Tuesday killed a moose that has lingered in the Wilmington Notch and drawn much public attention over the past few days.

DEC spokesman Dave Winchell told the News that his agency assessed the moose on Tuesday and determined it had significant injuries to both of its hind legs and that its condition was deteriorating. It has essentially been in the same spot of the West Branch of the AuSable River since Saturday.

"It is unlikely the moose would have been able to remove itself from the ravine and the animal most likely would have died there," Winchell told the News in an email. "Removal of the moose while it was alive was unsafe for both the moose and people involved in that activity.

Article Photos

A moose (far right) stands in the West Branch of the AuSable River in the Wilmington Notch along state Route 86 on Monday afternoon. The moose has since been killed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Photos/Lora Bushy/Lake Placid News

A closer view of the moose along the Notch in Wilmington on Monday.

"In addition, the moose created a public safety concern with people and vehicles traveling the narrow road through the Wilmington Notch. The mix of cars stopping in the road, people on foot on the road and moving vehicles with people looking for the moose and not watching the road created unsafe conditions. A number of near collisions have occurred."

Winchell said euthanizing wildlife is always the last resort.

The moose's carcass has been transported to the DEC Pathology Laboratory in Delmar, near Albany, for evaluation.